CHAPTER FOUR

GIANNA

"Big mistake, Gianna," he growled out and with the look he gave me, I knew I'd fallen right into the infamous Ryder Black's trap and I had no way to get out. Fuck.

"S-sir?" I stammered out. Ryder smirked and stood up from his chair. I gulped and stood still. He came closer and leaned on the desk beside me. Staring straight into my eyes, he picked up the contract and opened to a page.

"I've got you where I want you, wife," he chuckled darkly and I gulped. My heart raced as my shaky hands collected the contract and read the clause. "The contract says that as my secretary you're going to have to live with me and follow me everywhere I go."

"That's the job of a bodyguard. I'm not your bodyguard," I blurted.

"Secretary, bodyguard, what's the difference? Besides, had you stayed back four years ago, you'd stil be doing the same thing, right?" he asked. How the hell did he remember? It'd been so long.

"What if I want to pull out of the contract?" I asked, hopeful. Ryder grinned and pointed at the bottom of the page.

"If you decide so, then you'll have to pay about two million dollars," he said, shrugging. "Chicken change, no?" he asked.

I gripped the contract tightly and tried to rip it apart but I couldn't. I glanced up to see Ryder glaring at me as he held the contract firmly. Whispering into my ear, he said, "I'd waited at the altar for hours, Gianna. People talked. People said things about me and all because of a nobody like you. I'll make you pay, Gianna. I will break you if it means making myself feel better. You will beg."

I shut my eyes tightly to stop the tears from flowing."This is not right," I said.

"So was embarrassing me four years ago. Deal with it, Gianna. I expect you to be over it by the time I get to my house. I'll send my driver to help you get your things. Do not waste time," he said then pushed himself off the table and went back to sit on his chair.

I stood up without a word and walked out of his office with tears running down my face. As was tradition, the people I passed by could only stare, assume and fucking gossip. Jobless idiots. Immediately I got out of the building, I began walking away without waiting for his so called driver. As I walked down the road, I noticed a black car following me at a small distance and I grimaced. I stopped and waited for it to reach me.

"Hello, Ma'am, Mr Black asked me to take you somewhere," the driver said, stopping the car beside me. I leaned in through the window and said,

"Look, you're going to leave me alone and tell your master that I can find my way and that there's no way in hell I'm doing what he says. Tell him to do his fucking worst." then I kept walking. I got into a cab and told him my address. As the cab went, I noticed the car following us from behind and I groaned.

Immediately the cab driver dropped me off, I slammed my door shut and ran into my apartment. Rhea was at home and was watching television.

"What's up-what's wrong?" she asked, frowning. Rhea was not only my co-worker but also my roommate. She was younger than me and was trying to make ends meet by working jobs and going to school.

"It's nothing. Got any food?" I asked her. She nodded and pointed at the table. There was a box of untouched pizza in it and I grinned. "Thanks, boo."

I picked the box of pizza and stalked to my room. Inside, I ravished the pizza. After taking the pizza, I picked the box so I could throw it away. As I stepped into the living room, the doorbell sounded and I heard our landlord shouting from outside.

"You girls better come out now. Open this door. I know you both are in there. Come out now" he yelled and I could almost imagine the veins in his neck and forehead jutting out from all his shouting. I looked at Rhea with a raised brow.

"Haven't we paid rent? What's up with him?" I asked. Rhea shrugged and stood up.

"I'll go check. Maybe it's one of his days to showcase madness," she suggested. I laughed. Our landlord wasn't exactly stable. Well, at least, that's how it looked. Rhea opened the door and immediately, he stormed in.

"You girls better pack your things and leave this place before tonight. I can't have people like you in my place, ruining the image of my business. Get out quickly. I don't want to return and see you unholy children here!" he yelled, wildly. I furrowed my brows in confusion.

"What are you blabbering about?" I asked.

"Oh please. I went to school too, no need to blow big grammar for me. I'm even more smart than you!" he continued yelling. I was utterly confused. Glancing at Rhea, she shrugged and shook her head.

"Sir, is there any problem?" she asked.

"Yes! The problem is that there are demonic children such as you still living in the world. Here's your eviction note. Get out before tonight. I will not go easy on you!" he yelled as he threw the envelope at us then flew out. This was puzzling. I shook my head, intending to dismiss it as one of his mad days.

I turned away and my phone began ringing. I looked at it and saw that it was an unknown number." Huh?" I muttered as I picked it up. Who knows? It may be important.

"That was just a preview of what I can do, Gianna. Follow the driver within the next thirty minutes or it'd be the coffee shop next and yes, your dear roommate would never find a university that'd accept her," the familiar voice threatened. For a second, I forgot how to breathe and how to move. My heart forgot how to beat and my brain forgot how to process information. I stood still as the call disconnected.

"Everything okay?" Rhea asked, tapping my shoulder. My senses returned and I inhaled a sharp breath.

"Rhea, I'm sorry. I'll protect you," I said, suddenly. Rhea looked extremely confused.

"What are you saying?" she asked. I shook my head.

"I can't explain it now but come here," I told her as I practically ran to the room. I grabbed an envelope from a drawer and gave it to her. "If anything happens, use this. Don't ask questions now. I'm leaving but I'll keep in touch," I told her. Rhea stood transfixed as I packed my things like a mad woman.

Throwing everything I could lay my eyes on in the traveling bag, my mind was in a mess as I tried to formulate a plan. After packing all my things, I dragged my bag out of the house and immediately saw the car.

"Are you ready to-"

"Yes, let's go," I dismissed the driver as I jumped into the car. I didn't even look back at the house for fear of seeing Rhea and having to stop to explain things to her. I'd tell her later.

After some time, we arrived at Ryder's mansion and thankfully, he hadn't come back. Some maids came to lead me inside and I got stink eyes from most of them. They directed me to a room where I'd be staying and I thanked them. The room was quite big but it wasn't enough to take my mind off what was bothering me. I lay on the bed as the plan slowly started making sense in my head. One thing still nagged at the back of my mind, Rhea.

°~!!~°

I fingered my passport and other travel documents when I heard the call. I sighed. I grabbed my small bag and stood up. I managed to escape from Ryder's house and now I was doing the same thing I'd done four years ago; flee. I began walking with purpose towards the airplane when all of a sudden, I was pulled back and I felt something hot press against the small of my back.

"If you so much as move, Gianna, I promise you, you'll be paralyzed for life."